Cruising the Galapagos: M/C Archipel II

AM: Arrival at Baltra Airport
Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced on the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; this must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight. In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry ($100USD), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbor of Puerto Ayora. Here you will climb aboard the yacht Archipel II. After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board.

PM: Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Because wild Galapagos giant tortoises don't stop at official National Park boundaries, dozens of them also roam on the adjacent woodlands in the populated agricultural zone of Santa Cruz. Thanks to their concentrations around their favorite muddy pools, these semi-open pastures and moist scalesia woodlands are the best place for a quick visit.

After this excursion you will have some time to visit the surroundings.

AM: Cormorant Point (Floreana)
The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana, which was formed by a number of smaller volcanic cones, covered with tropical dry forest (palo santo). At the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small Galapagos sea lion-colony. The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals that have been blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The 'flour sand' beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made up of even finer white coral sand that feels very smooth on your feet. Parrotfish have pulverized it, grinding the calcareous skeletons of living coral. You can spot schools of stingrays who love burying themselves in the sandy bottom. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs.

PM: Post Office Bay (Floreana)
While having lunch we will navigate back to Post Office Bay (about 1hr). Post your holiday greetings in the historical barrel, one of three nearby visitor's sites on Floreana's north coast (short displacement, wet landing) and relax. Besides Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles and golden cownose rays you might spot Galapagos penguins! This is the only place in the south-eastern archipelago where penguins reside. Explore by inflatable dinghy - or in your own pace by sea-kayak - another submerged crater rim around the bay of Baroness Lookout. Climb the miniature basaltic cone of Baroness Lookout and take in the paradisaical coastal views. This viewpoint was the favorite spot of one of Floreana's first colonists, the eccentric Baroness and self-proclaimed 'Empress of Galapagos' Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who even built her house a few meters behind. She and one of her lovers were the first in a series of mysterious disappearing and deaths in the 1930s.

AM: Gardner Bay (Espanola)
On the north-eastern coast of the island of Espanola, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and to admire the large number of colorful reef fish. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel side by side with green sea turtles, or to enjoy the proximity of the playful Galapagos sea lion. The white sand beach is also an important breeding ground for the green sea turtles. In the crystal clear ocean, sometimes whales can be sighted under certain circumstances.

PM: Punta Suarez (Espanola)
This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds of the archipelago. The endangered Galapagos albatross returns to Espanola (March - December) annually. This allows visitors to admire the balances of pipes and bows (especially in October). Blue-fronted and nazcat oil pipes, black-tailed gulls and red-billed tropic birds are native to this island.Along the southern coast, high cliffs allow spectacular views of ascending birds and the sea water shot through air holes.

AM: Punta Pitt (San Cristobal)
Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the extreme eastern end of San Cristobal. On the small green sand beach, you will be welcomed by a cacophony of barking Galapagos sea lions. From saltbush and spiny shrubs behind the beach a trail leads up to an area of tropical dry forest vegetation: most of the year leafless palo santo trees, yellow cordia shrubs, tiny prickly pear cacti and carpetweed, that turns red in the dry season. After the pretty steep climb through a gully to the cliff top, you can wander around the only colony in Galapagos that is home to all species of booby.

PM: Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal)
The primary attraction of this site is the coral sand beach. It is an excellent place to swim and snorkel. Cerro Brujo is the remains of a tuff cone. It is one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin. Captain Fitzroy climbed to the top of the hill to scout out reefs. It has an impressive landscape, where it is often possible to see coastal and migratory birds, including pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Swallow-tailed Gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas. At times the lagoon is completely dry and deposits of salt may be found in the bottom. The people of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno used to use the lagoon as a salt mine.

AM: Isla Lobos
The island is named after the amount of sea lions that rest on the seaside. Though at first sight it appears to just be barren rocks overgrown by palo santo, this low islet is home to male blue footed boobies and great frigate birds that try to impress the females with clumsy dances heaving their striking blue feet or blowing up their balloon-sized scarlet pouches. You can also find a lot of life in the intertidal zone, including striking bright orange sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas on the boulders. On the horizon you can distinguish the contours of Kicker Rock. That impressive rock islet has become one of the landmarks of Galapagos.

PM: Transfer to San Cristobal Airport